Quick Bites: BaconFest insanity, Jimi sighting, new wine event and more.

Mac ’n’ cheese waffle cone with crispy double smoked bacon.

Baker’s English-style back bacon butty sandwich.

A full pound of crispy Baker’s Bacon tossed in honey hot sauce.

“Manimal”-style tater tots smothered with caramelized onions, jalapeño cheddar, chipotle aioli and…bacon.

(And bacon buffaleu tots to boot, tossed in buffalo sauce, bleu cheese, green onions and…bacon.)

Choc-o-rones, as in chocolate covered chiccarones with bacon, toffee and smoked almonds.

Maple bacon donut ice cream sundae with crispy applewood bacon, chopped nuts, vanilla ice cream and bourbon chocolate ganache.

As Monterey BaconFest returns June 25-26 for its second year (when it took the reins of Monterey Americana Festival), bigger and better than the popular inaugural event last year, it does so with a solid roster of music.

Fairground Saints, Alarma, Delaney Ann and Square One are among the performers, as is Tom Ayres.

He performs Jimi Hendrix's entire set from the '67 Monterey Pop Festival, with renowned drummer Prairie Prince, who is a member of The Tubes and a founding member of Journey.

They should go on about 3pm Sunday.

(The wider event is 11am-6pm Saturday-Sunday at Monterey County Fair and Event Center, 2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey. $12/general admission, $7/military and children age 8-17, free/children under 7. 372-5863, www.MontereyBaconFest.com.)

But it's those bacon creations ($10-$12 each), from bacon-maker Tony Baker (of Montrio Bistro) and bacon ambassador Todd Fisher (of Tarpy's Roadhouse) that have me slobbering all over my keyboard.

Time for lunch.

More news nuggets to digest appear here:

 • Tonight (June 21) Ratel Cider does a neat promotion: happy hour 7-9pm at Melville Tavern: free appetizers and a raffle.

• Joullian Vineyards and Winery (659-8100) hosts an open house 11am- 4pm Saturday, June 25 (free/members, $10/non-members), where attendees can enjoy barrel sampling, cellar tours, tractor rides and wine. Bring a lunch and enjoy the view.

• Dawn’s Dream and Galante Vineyards host their annual beach party at 13th Avenue on Carmel Beach 11am-3pm Saturday, June 25. Purchase a bottle at either tasting room and get a ticket. Galante also hosts Mike Marotta’s Mambo Italiano Band and rolls out a spread of food and wine at the winery Friday, July 1 ($75, 624-3800).

• Boete Winery, Morgan Winery, Southern Latitudes and McIntyre are collaborating under the fun umbrella of “93923 Wine Country” and doing something different noon-4pm Saturday, June 25 with “92923 Trivia and Tasting” ($35, 626-6268): small bites, wine tasting flights and grape-centric quizzes for a gift basket.

• Home brewing classes and brewer meetups continue via Bottoms Up (899-2739). Jump to the website for more on what Duane Shima and the hop loving mofos are doing to enlighten the masses. 

• Underground stud Executive Chef Danny Abbruzzese, formerly of Asilomar Conference Grounds, is bringing his style of healthy, organic cooking to the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey. He  will oversee the menus of Peter B's and Jacks Restaurant, which is due to get a major overhaul this summer.

• Speaking of Jacks, I celebrated its superb salad bar last week in describing amazing $11 endless lunches locally. Only it's been discontinued as Peter B's launched its own lunch.

• The Wine Experience on Cannery Row (324-4974) has new happy hours and growlers: 4-6pm Monday through Friday thinks like baked brie and flat breads are $5-$7, beers $4, wine $5. Growlers run $10 with refills that give sippers 25 percent more than a bottle for free. Plus music Sundays 3-6PM starting Sunday, June 26.